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South Korean Women's League top scorer urged to undergo gender test

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Six clubs from the South Korean Women's League have threatened to boycott the entire competition unless Seoul City Amazones striker Park Eun-Seon has a gender test.

South Korean Women's League top scorer Park Eun-seon is accused of being a man

Photo: Asiae

Park, who was the league's top scorer last season with 19 goals in 22 games, has actually had to suffer the indignity of taking a gender test several times in the past and passed entirely normally.

Writing on her Facebook page, Park said: "I have gone through the gender examination thing several times. I did it in a World Cup, in an Olympics and in several others and there were no problems.

"I've worked so hard to get to this point, and I will not give up easily. I know what these people are trying to do, and I won't fall down."

The Korea Football Association also confirmed that Park, now aged 26, has already passed a gender test which she was made to take at the age of 15.

"We have no intention of accepting the gender verification test just to stop the boycott," said Seoul Sports Council general secretary Kim Joon-Soo.

"But if it is needed for Park to compete in an international game and under specific regulations of FIFA, we will consider it."

Park's gender was previously questioned by China ahead of the 2010 Asian Cup and that she was omitted from the team because of it.

Kim added: "This is a serious violation of human rights that she's suffering for a second time.

"The question regarding Park's gender identity shall never be raised again. The city of Seoul will take all necessary measures to protect our player's human rights."

Meanwhile, Suwon Facilities Management Corporation coach Lee Sung-kyun, who first submitted the gender test request to the KFA, has resigned and apologised for "causing Park any pain" before claiming that his motives were misunderstood and that it was only a joke.